02 AUGUST 2015

Cello Renda one fight away from English title shot

By Matthew Bozeat: Cello Renda knows he has to win Saturday night’s fight in Peterborough to set up an English-title challenge in front of his home fans.

The 27 year-old from Newborough tops the bill against Jody Meikle at the Arena and has been handed a massive boost in the countdown to the fight.

Renda yesterday learned he will have home advantage when he challenges for the English middleweight championship.

Promoter Robert Waterman won the purse bids for his fight with Danny Butler and plans to stage the big fight at the Peterborough Arena on Saturday, June 22.

Renda said: "This is great news.

"This will be one of the biggest-ever shows in Peterborough and I haven’t stopped smiling since I heard the news.

"I can’t thank Robert Waterman and sponsors Autovia enough. I owe them everything. This really is a dream come true. I’ve worked hard throughout my whole career for this."

Renda is not looking beyond his next fight, however.

He’s been matched with Jody Meikle on Saturday night and that is now a must-win fight.

Meikle is an erratic, tough-as-old boots journeyman from Scunthorpe and Renda knows what to expect having watched his last fight.

Renda was at ringside in Birmingham last week to watch Meikle box Andrew Robinson and said: "Jody does everything wrong, but he’s effective. He’s going to make it hard for me. I’ve just got to do the simple things to beat him and not get dragged into a fight."

Waterman says Saturday’s show features some of the best boxing talent in Britain.

Michael Maguire was a world-class amateur, Eli Frankham makes his professional debut after winning European Schoolboy honours and Jordan Gill, Terry Holmes and Nathan Dale are unbeaten pros who boxed for England in the unpaid ranks.

Eye super-middleweight Sam Barron showed promise as an amateur and made great start to professional career with a one-punch knock-out win at the Arena in February.

Waterman has worked with the sport’s biggest names - including David Haye and Ricky Hatton - and he’s convinced the fighters on his latest show are heading for the top.

"They aren’t just the best prospects in the area," said Waterman, "they are some of the best prospects in the country.

"Not many shows have so many good prospects - and they will all want to be the star of the show.

"I’m convinced we will be watching at least one future British champion on Saturday night and if the public keep supporting our shows, hopefully they will be fighting for titles in Peterborough."